thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第12节
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address her。 He could not hear the creature's words； nor Thuvia's reply；
but it must have angered the green monster； for Carthoris saw him leap
toward the prisoner； striking her a cruel blow across the face with his
metal…banded arm。
Then the son of John Carter； Jeddak of Jeddaks； Warlord of Barsoom；
went mad。 The old； blood…red haze through which his sire had glared at
countless foes； floated before his eyes。
His half…Earthly muscles； responding quickly to his will； sent him in
enormous leaps and bounds toward the green monster that had struck the
woman he loved。
The Torquasians were not looking in the direction of the forest。 All
eyes had been upon the figures of the girl and their jeddak； and loud was
the hideous laughter that rang out in appreciation of the wit of the green
emperor's reply to his prisoner's appeal for liberty。
Carthoris had covered about half the distance between the forest and
the green warriors； when a new factor succeeded in still further directing
the attention of the latter from him。
Upon a high tower within the beleaguered city a man appeared。 From
his upturned mouth there issued a series of frightful shrieks； uncanny
shrieks that swept； shrill and terrifying； across the city's walls； over the
heads of the besiegers； and out across the forest to the uttermost confines
of the valley。
Once； twice； thrice the fearsome sound smote upon the ears of the
listening green men and then far； far off across the broad woods came
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sharp and clear from the distance an answering shriek。
It was but the first。 From every point rose similar savage cries； until
the world seemed to tremble to their reverberations。
The green warriors looked nervously this way and that。 They knew not
fear； as Earth men may know it； but in the face of the unusual their wonted
self…assurance deserted them。
And then the great gate in the city wall opposite the platform of Hortan
Gur swung suddenly wide。 From it issued as strange a sight as Carthoris
ever had witnessed； though at the moment he had time to cast but a single
fleeting glance at the tall bowmen emerging through the portal behind
their long； oval shields； to note their flowing auburn hair； and to realize
that the growling things at their side were fierce Barsoomian lions。
Then he was in the midst of the astonished Torquasians。 With drawn
long…sword he was among them； and to Thuvia of Ptarth； whose startled
eyes were the first to fall upon him； it seemed that she was looking upon
John Carter himself； so strangely similar to the fighting of the father was
that of the son。
Even to the famous fighting smile of the Virginian was the
resemblance true。 And the sword arm！ Ah； the subtleness of it； and the
speed！
All about was turmoil and confusion。 Green warriors were leaping to
the backs of their restive； squealing thoats。 Calots were growling out their
savage gutturals； whining to be at the throats of the oncoming foemen。
Thar Ban and another by the side of the rostrum had been the first to
note the coming of Carthoris； and it was with them he battled for
possession of the red girl； while the others hastened to meet the host
advancing from the beleaguered city。
Carthoris sought both to defend Thuvia of Ptarth and reach the side of
the hideous Hortan Gur that he might avenge the blow the creature had
struck the girl。
He succeeded in reaching the rostrum； over the dead bodies of two
warriors who had turned to join Thar Ban and his companion in repulsing
this adventurous red man； just as Hortan Gur was about to leap from it to
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the back of his thoat。
The attention of the green warriors turned principally upon the
bowmen advancing upon them from the city； and upon the savage banths
that paced beside them cruel beasts of war； infinitely more terrible than
their own savage calots。
As Carthoris leaped to the rostrum he drew Thuvia up beside him； and
then he turned upon the departing jeddak with an angry challenge and a
sword thrust。
As the Heliumite's point pricked his green hide； Hortan Gur turned
upon his adversary with a snarl； but at the same instant two of his
chieftains called to him to hasten； for the charge of the fair…skinned
inhabitants of the city was developing into a more serious matter than the
Torquasians had anticipated。
Instead of remaining to battle with the red man； Hortan Gur promised
him his attention after he had disposed of the presumptuous citizens of the
walled city； and； leaping astride his thoat； galloped off to meet the rapidly
advancing bowmen。
The other warriors quickly followed their jeddak； leaving Thuvia and
Carthoris alone upon the platform。
Between them and the city raged a terrific battle。 The fair…skinned
warriors； armed only with their long bows and a kind of short…handled
war…axe； were almost helpless beneath the savage mounted green men at
close quarters； but at a distance their sharp arrows did fully as much
execution as the radium projectiles of the green men。
But if the warriors themselves were outclassed； not so their savage
companions； the fierce banths。 Scarce had the two lines come together
when hundreds of these appalling creatures had leaped among the
Torquasians； dragging warriors from their thoatsdragging down the huge
thoats themselves； and bringing consternation to all before them。
The numbers of the citizenry； too； was to their advantage； for it seemed
that scarce a warrior fell but his place was taken by a score more； in such a
constant stream did they pour from the city's great gate。
And so it came； what with the ferocity of the banths and the numbers
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of the bowmen； that at last the Torquasians fell back； until presently the
platform upon which stood Carthoris and Thuvia lay directly in the centre
of the fight。
That neither was struck by a bullet or an arrow seemed a miracle to
both； but at last the tide had rolled completely past them； so that they were
alone between the fighters and the city； except for the dying and the dead；
and a score or so of growling banths； less well trained than their fellows；
who prowled among the corpses seeking meat。
To Carthoris the strangest part of the battle had been the terrific toll
taken by the bowmen with their relatively puny weapons。 Nowhere that
he could see was there a single wounded green man； but the corpses of
their dead lay thick upon the field of battle。
Death seemed to follow instantly the slightest pinprick of a bowman's
arrow； nor apparently did one ever miss its goal。 There could be but one
explanation： the missiles were poison…tipped。
Presently the sounds of conflict died in the distant forest。 Quiet
reigned； broken only by the growling of the devouring banths。 Carthoris
turned toward Thuvia of Ptarth。 As yet neither had spoken。
〃Where are we； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
The girl looked at him questioningly。 His very presence had seemed
to proclaim a guilty knowledge of her abduction。 How else might he have
known the destination of the flier that brought her！
〃Who should know better than the Prince of Helium？〃 she asked in
return。 〃Did he not come hither of his own free will？〃
〃From Aaanthor I came voluntarily upon the trail of the green man
who had stolen you； Thuvia；〃 he replied； 〃but from the time I left Helium
until I awoke above Aaanthor I thought myself bound for Ptarth。
〃It had been intimated that I had guilty knowledge of your abduction；〃
he explained simply； 〃and I was hastening to the jeddak； your father； to
convince him of the falsity of the charge； and to give my service to your
recovery。 Before I left Helium some one tampered with my compass； so
that
